Help with Display Problem

[Jim]

I recently discovered that I could no longer change the display properties
on my monitor. It is set to 1024 by 768 pixels and 16 bit color. The Advance
tab is dimmed out.

I removed my NVIDIA GeForce FX5200 driver and re-installed it - same
problem.

Appreciate any and all suggestions

Jim

 

[R. McCarty]

By default XP defines or uses a "Plug-&-Play" monitor definition file
( Driver ). One thing that may help your situation is to install a vendor
specific driver for your monitor.

Using a vendor/model specific driver allows XP to more closely set
options like maximum resolution and color depth. On my own system
I use a NEC 90GX2 and NEC provides a package that includes a
driver (.inf/.cat) and a .icm ( Color Profile definition ).

Usually you have to override the Plug-&-Play driver using the Update
driver option in the monitors category and direct the update to your
vendor specific driver.

Your problem could also be related to "Phantom" device entries in
Device Manager. To resolve that you have add a System Environment
Variable "DevMgr_Show_NonPresent_Devices" and set it to 1. Then
open Device Manager, Click "View" tic/check "Show Hidden Devices".
Then open and examine both Monitors and Display Adapters and any
entries shown in diminished tone ( grayed out ) should be uninstalled.

 

[Jim]

How, where do I add this:
System Environment Variable "DevMgr_Show_NonPresent_Devices"

TIA

Jim

 

[R. McCarty]

Right Click My Computer, From the context menu Left Click
Properties. When the details box opens, Click Advanced (TAB).
Click the Environment Variables box ( Lower Left ). Use the
System Variables section - Click New, enter text as:
DevMgr_Show_NonPresent_Devices
Tab to Variable Value: and enter 1

Now Device Manager will show all Plug-&-Play Phantom entries.
*Note: It is normal to find Phantom entries in the Sound category.
These should NOT be removed/uninstalled.
Also devices that aren't physically connected and powered
on will show up in diminished tone, so be careful removing
entries.

 

[Jim]

To R. McCarty,

Your suggestion to change to the vender specific driver for my monitor
(Dell) was the solution.

Many Thanks

Jim

 

[Jim]

Sorry McCarty, after a short period of working properly, the same display
returned. Will have to try to reinstall that Dell display driver again - not
sure what is happening here>

Jim

 

[Jim]

Problem solved, I believe